Edwardsville man sought after allegedly shoving police officer

Edwardsville police cited two men and have a warrant for the arrest of a third who they say pushed a police officer during a drunken confrontation near the Eagle Ridge Apartments.

Police say Rahdee Johnson, 23, of Edwardsville, is wanted on charges of resisting arrest, public drunkenness, trespassing, simple assault and disorderly conduct following the confrontation about 3:10 a.m. Friday.

According to police, Officer Michael Lehman was on patrol at the Eagle Ridge Apartments when he saw three men walking through the parking lot, one of whom ran and hid behind a Dumpster.

The officer confronted the men, identified as Johnson, Timothy Evans, 19, of Edwardsville, and Joseph Knowlin, 19, of Plymouth. The man hiding behind the trash receptacle, Johnson, was holding a beer, police said.

Johnson told the officer he was hiding because he had previously been banned from the complex for a trespassing conviction in January, and the men gave differing stories on what they were doing, according to police.

Police say Evans, who smelled of alcohol, then began to yell at Lehman because they had been stopped, and refused orders to desist.

Lehman began to arrest Evans for disorderly conduct when Johnson started to yell at him for arresting Evans, police said. As Lehman went to put handcuffs on Evans, Johnson pushed him to prevent the cuffs from going on, according to police.

As backup arrived on the scene, Johnson and Knowlin ran, police said. Officer James Verdekal gave chase, catching Knowlin in a yard on Grove Street, according to police.

Johnson, however, ran into the Hilltop Apartments and escaped.

Evans and Knowlin were cited for disorderly conduct, purchasing alcohol as a minor and public drunkenness. They were released to their parents, police said.

Magisterial District Judge Paul Roberts issued a warrant for Johnson's arrest on Friday. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or Edwardsville police.

jhalpin@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2058

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